Social media push aims to educate farmers and pet owners
This winter NOAH will be promoting the #VaccinesWork campaign across their social media channels, providing information on the benefits of vaccination for pets and farm animals.
The campaign – which was started by Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) in 2018 – will begin in the new year and will raise awareness of the science behind vaccines and how they work, as well as the diseases they protect against.
An important aspect of the campaign will be reviewing storage and administration of vaccines, as research has shown that only 53 per cent of farmers know the correct temperature to store vaccines at, and less than 10 per cent check fridge temperatures daily.
NOAH’s chief executive Dawn Howard said: “It is encouraging that vaccination of the UK’s calves and sheep against livestock diseases has risen to one of the highest levels in seven years. This increase is encouraging, however still more needs to be done in relation to uptake, storage and usage.
“We are asking the vet profession to support the #VaccinesWork campaign by spreading the messages with their clients and engaging on social media.”
The initial focus of the campaign is on educating farmers on the importance of vaccines, but this will eventually extend to include pet owners as well.
Dawn Howard continues: “The topic of vaccine hesitancy is becoming increasingly important. Recognised by the WHO as one of the top 10 global health threats for people in 2019, this phenomenon is translating to the veterinary sector as well, especially in companion animals.
“The PDSA reports an ‘alarming’ drop in pet vaccinations: the proportion of pet dogs, cats and rabbits receiving a primary course when young has fallen by 18 per cent over the past 3 years, down to 66 per cent.”
“This is bad news for the health and welfare of the nation’s pets, who are increasingly at risk of disease, and we need to work to address this.”
Image (c) NOAH
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
